A cruise ship is one of the best vacations around. You get on board and leave your worries behind. Everything is taken care of and you don’t have to think, plan, or work. There is a lot included in one price including meals, activities & tons of entertainment. But, there are some things you can do in the planning stages, to make the trip a little better. Learn some tips from a seasoned cruiser on how to make the most of your cruise vacation. Selecting a good cabin will go a long way to helping you enjoy the time you spend there. You don’t cruise to stay in the cabin, but you will spend a fair amount of time there, so make it as comfortable as possible.
Research: First, do some homework and get the best cabin you can. Get some help from a good travel agent and listen to their advice. Also, get a brochure from your agent, or spend a little time online looking at the deck plan. What is the most important aspect of this cruise for you? Is it the ports you are visiting? the entertainment options? the dining? onboard cooking classes? romance? to meet others? fitness? Keeping all of this in mind can help you and your travel agent choose the best ship. It will also make it easier to choose your cabin.
Cabin type: Your main choices are inside cabins, outside cabins, balconies and suites. Let’s eliminate the first and last right away. Unless your budget is extremely tight, or you have money to burn, bypass those two choices. An inside cabin is too claustrophobic and you can never tell what part of the day it is without a clock. And a suite frankly isn’t worth the money for the amount of time you will spend there. Don’t get me wrong, if a suite is well within your budget, the extra space & perks are great, but if it’s a choice between spending money on a suite and booking excursions to immerse yourself in the ports you are visiting or splurging on a few romantic dinners, we suggest the latter.
Location, location, location. The final choice is location on the ship relative to everything else.
Stability: Worried about motion or sea sickness? Get something in the middle of the ship as low as possible. This will minimize motion. Otherwise, the rooms up high are more desirable and tend to be closer to everything. Avoid the very front and back of the ship. There will be more motion and both can be noisy – the front from waves, and the back from engine noise and vibration.
Noise: The other things you want to think about are the same as in a hotel. Stay away from elevators and stair wells unless you want to be close due to mobility issues. Also, avoid service corridors – ships operate twenty-four seven and being near a service hall will be noisy. Also steer clear of connecting rooms, unless you are traveling with someone else. Noise reduction on cruise ships gets better all the time, but a connecting door is as noisy as one in a hotel. Make sure you are not below the nightclub, the pool deck, lounges or restaurants, again it can be very noisy at all hours.
Interests:
- Love the spa? Newer ships offer spa cabins that are close by and offer added perks. Celebrity Cruises for example offers a specialty restaurant called Blu for dinner for all of travelers booked in a spa cabin.
- Do you enjoy outdoor space? Do you want to watch the sunrise or sunset from your balcony? If you are going to spend the money on an ocean view balcony cabin, we suggest choose one that is port side. If you are willing to book an obstructed balcony cabin, these are usually offers at a considerably lower rate.
- Traveling in a family group? Explore pricing & cabin options. Some ships offer family ocean view and inside cabins which are larger than standard cabins. At other times, particularly when traveling with teenagers, you may want to consider connecting cabins. Some ships also offer suites that connect to small cabins as well.
Related reading: Best Cruise Lines for Family Reunions
How to Plan A Family Reunion Cruise - Traveling solo? Some newer ships now offer small studio cabins for single travelers where you don’t have to pay a single supplement. You also know that everyone nearby is traveling solo as well. Norwegian Cruise Line has a great area lounge attached to the solo cabins so it’s easy to meet fellow travelers.
Related reading: Tips for Dining Solo When Traveling
A good travel agent will help you select the right cabin, and remember there is no additional cost to use their expertise. On the contrary you can often get ship board credits, specialty dining, or a bottle of wine you would not receive if you booked direct with the cruise line. Agents also know their ships well. For example on Holland America Cruises, there is a deck dedicated to suites. If you happen to book an inside or balcony cabin on that deck, you are going to get the best cabin stewards because that is who they assign to suite guests. On other ships, certain cabins have an extended balcony, so you will have extra room at no charge. Take advantage of an agent’s knowledge and expertise!
